Jurgen Klopp silent on Kolo Toure's future at Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has described Kolo Toure as a "very, very important player", despite the defender's contract at Anfield expiring in the summer.

Toure has featured in 21 games in all competitions this season but while Klopp acknowledges that he is fan of the 35-year-old, he has suggested that no talks will be held regarding his future until the end of the season.

The 48-year-old is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "Kolo is a very, very important player for us, even when he doesn't play.

"He's one of the most impressive people I have met, but now is not the right time to speak about Kolo's future."

While Toure has been regarded as backup to Mamadou Sakho, Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel, Liverpool have suffered just two defeats when Toure has featured during the current campaign.